(a) The following activities are prohibited and thus are unlawful for any person to conduct or to cause to be conducted within the Sanctuary:

(1) Introducing or releasing introduced species from within or into the sanctuary.

(2) Anchoring a vessel.

(3) Deserting a vessel aground, adrift, or at anchor.

(4) Leaving harmful matter on an abandoned or deserted vessel or structure.

(5) Operating a vessel at a speed exceeding three knots when closer than 200 feet (60.96 meters) of another vessel displaying a dive flag.

(6) Operating a vessel in a manner which causes the vessel to strike or otherwise cause damage to Sanctuary resources.

(7) Diving, snorkeling, or conducting diving or snorkeling operations from a vessel not in compliance with applicable U.S. Coast Guard navigation rules governing the display of lights and signals, and not flying in a conspicuous manner the international code flag alpha “A” or the standard red-and-white U.S. “diver down” flag.

(8) Discharging, or depositing from within or into the Sanctuary, any material or other matter, except clean vessel deck wash down, clean vessel engine cooling water, clean vessel generator cooling water, clean bilge water, anchor wash, or vessel engine or generator exhaust.

(9) Discharging or depositing from beyond the boundary of the Sanctuary any material or other matter that subsequently enters the Sanctuary and injures a Sanctuary resource or quality, except those listed in paragraph (a)(8) of this section and §922.105(c).

(10) Sand mining, dredging, filling, dynamiting, or otherwise disturbing or altering the seabed.

(11) Removing, damaging, or tampering with any historical or cultural resource.

(12) Taking any marine mammal, sea turtle, or seabird within or above the Sanctuary, except as authorized by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended, (MMPA), 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., Endangered Species Act, as amended, (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended, (MBTA), 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq., or any regulation, as amended, promulgated under the MMPA, ESA, or MBTA.

(13) Using or discharging explosives or weapons of any description. Distress signaling devices, necessary and proper for safe vessel operation, and knives generally used by fishermen and swimmers shall not be considered weapons for purposes of this section.

(14) Marking, defacing, or damaging in any way, or displacing or removing or tampering with any signs, notices, or placards, whether temporary or permanent, or with any monuments, stakes, posts, or other boundary markers related to the Sanctuary.

(15) Abandoning a structure, material, or other matter on or in the submerged lands of the Sanctuary.

(b) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(1) through (15) of this section, §922.104, and §922.105 do not apply to any activity necessary for national defense.

(c) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(2) through (15) of this section, §922.104, and §922.105 do not apply to any activity necessary to respond to an emergency threatening life, property, or the environment.

(d) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(2) through (15) of this section, §922.104, and §922.105 do not apply to any activity necessary for valid law enforcement purposes in the Sanctuary.

(e) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(2) through (15) of this section, §922.104, and §922.105 do not apply to any activity conducted under and in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms, and conditions of a National Marine Sanctuary permit issued pursuant to 15 CFR 922.48 and 922.107.